James Richard Riordan II (December 31, 1949 – August 14, 2022) was an American politician.
The family lived on a farm near Boone, Iowa, and Riordan II graduated from the city's Ryan High School in 1968.
Shortly after earning his bachelor's degree from Iowa State University in 1975, Riordan married Rhoda Quade, with whom he raised three children.
Riordan owned the Ashworth Acres tree nursery near Waukee, and later worked as a researcher and writer of grants and contracts for Des Moines Area Community College.
He worked as an administrative assistant for Robert T. Anderson, an aide to Tom Harkin, and was staff director of the United States Senate Democratic Caucus before winning a seat on the Iowa Senate in 1985.